BASEBALL: SPOTLIGHT; NATIONAL LEAGUE SCOUTING REPORT

By BEN SHPIGEL

Published: October 10, 2006

St. Louis Cardinals (83-78) vs. Mets (97-65)
The Cardinals made the playoffs only after nearly giving away an eight-and-a-half-game lead over Houston. But behind Chris Carpenter, a retooled bullpen and Albert Pujols, St. Louis dispatched the Padres and advanced to the National League Championship Series for the fourth time in five years. As the world champion Chicago White Sox did last season, the Mets faded down the stretch before immediately playing better in the postseason. Over all, the Mets have won seven straight, and they are 4-2 against St. Louis this season, including a three-game sweep at Shea Stadium in August. BEN SHPIGEL

PITCHING

CARDINALS -- Unlike the Mets, St. Louis has a true ace in Chris Carpenter, who won his two starts in the division series against San Diego. But with Carpenter not in line to start until Game 3, the Cardinals will rely heavily on two Jeffs -- Weaver and Suppan -- to set the tone in the first two games. Weaver overcame a spotty regular season to pitch five scoreless innings in Game 2, and Suppan, a 12-game winner during the regular season, took the loss in Game 3. Jason Marquis or the rookie Anthony Reyes will start Game 4.

METS -- The team will go with its best pitcher, Tom Glavine, in Game 1. Manager Willie Randolph will then hope for the best but prepare for the worst. If John Maine, Steve Trachsel and Oliver P?z, the projected Game 4 starter, can keep their games close through four or five innings, Randolph will gladly turn to his bullpen. Pedro Feliciano, Aaron Heilman and Billy Wagner have been superb. Randolph leaned on them, as well as Guillermo Mota, against the Dodgers, but the three days off before the N.L.C.S. will ensure that everyone is rested and available.

HITTING

CARDINALS -- As always, the St. Louis offense revolves around Albert Pujols. But he needs help from his supporting cast, particularly Jim Edmonds, David Eckstein and Preston Wilson. Edmonds is finding his stride in his return from postconcussion syndrome, but the Mets may consider pitching around Pujols and taking their chances with him. Eckstein, the pesky leadoff hitter, batted just .133 in the division series. Wilson has platooned with the rookie Chris Duncan in left field and provides an additional power threat.

METS -- The team's first two postseason runs were scored on home runs, then the next 17 runs against the Dodgers were scored with a combination of small ball and clutch hitting. The lineup is relentless, and if it can hammer the Cardinals' starters in the first few innings, the odds clearly favor the Mets. Even without consistent production from their leadoff hitter, Jos?eyes, who batted .167 against Los Angeles, the Mets scored in bunches. The No. 2 hitter, Paul Lo Duca, is a master at making contact and situational hitting, and he was also the Mets' leading hitter in the division series, batting .455 with three runs batted in.

FIELDING

CARDINALS -- Catcher Yadier Molina, who threw out 42 percent of runners attempting to steal against him during the regular season, could make Jos?eyes or Carlos Beltr?think twice when they're on first. When healthy, Scott Rolen is one of baseball's best defensive third basemen, but a shoulder injury diminishes his range. Ronnie Belliard and David Eckstein are a solid, if unspectacular, double-play combination, and Albert Pujols has made progress at first base. Jim Edmonds is an excellent center fielder, but the players Manager Tony La Russa starts in right and left will represent a significant step down.

METS -- Cliff Floyd's Achilles' tendon injury could keep him out of the series, hurting the team's offense, but the defense would improve without him. Endy Ch?z, his likely replacement in left field, is the Mets' best defensive outfielder. The Cardinals would be wise to challenge Shawn Green's arm in right. David Wright is on the verge of becoming an excellent defensive third baseman, but he must be more accurate with his throws to first. The veteran Jos?alent?has excelled in his first extended time at second base.

X-FACTOR

CARDINALS -- An unheralded group of rookies helped the Cardinals' bullpen pitch 131/3 scoreless innings in the division series against San Diego. Tyler Johnson pitched in all four games; Josh Kinney did not allow a hit; and the closer, Adam Wainwright, struck out six in three and two-thirds innings. Manager Tony La Russa loves matchups, and the Mets' abundance of left-handed hitters gives him ample opportunity to create ones in his favor. The Cardinals have two left-handers, Johnson and Randy Flores, who could defuse Carlos Delgado, Shawn Green and, if healthy, Cliff Floyd, and perhaps force Mets Manager Willie Randolph to insert a right-handed hitter off the bench.

METS -- With a patchwork rotation, the Mets were not expected to sweep the division series against Los Angeles. Now, despite their pitching questions, they are clearly the favorites against St. Louis. They must be careful not to look too far ahead, but they are motivated by the notion that they, not the Yankees, are still playing, and that Queens, not the Bronx, could be the site of World Series games.

Photos: The Mets won their only previous postseason series against the Cardinals, taking the 2000 N.L.C.S. in five games. (Photo by Kathy Willens/Associated Press); Albert Pujols has 32 R.B.I. in 41 career postseason games. (Photo by Peter Newcomb/Reuters); David Wright batted .333 (4 for 12) and drove in four runs against the Dodgers. (Photo by John Dunn for The New York Times)